The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Cairo Governorate, Cairo Governorate

October 22, 2021 Joeann Galban

Discover the best top things to do in Cairo Governorate, Egypt including Western Desert, Zamalek (Gezira Island), Nile River, Al-Azhar Park, Nilometer, Chaar-Hachamaim Synagogue, Wadi Degla, Japanese Garden, Mokkatom Mountain, Gabalaya Park and Aquarium.
Restaurants in Cairo Governorate

1. Western Desert

Cairo Egypt
Excellent
82%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 17 reviews

Western Desert

This desert covers more than 600,000 square kilometers stretching from the Nile River to the Libyan border, and from the Mediterranean Sea coast to the Sudanese border.

Reviewed By LynchKenny

This is an amazing landscape, with stunning scenery. Great views from Israel into Jordan and Egypt across the borders. I think you can also see Saudi Arabia from some high points. Curious co-location of Bedouin communities, kibbutzim, the Israeli Defence Force and the holiday resort of Eilat! It is easy to drive around on excellent roads if you have a vehicle. If you do, make a point of visiting the Timna Geopark, where there is evidence of the Nabateans, the Egyptians as well as the Romans.

2. Zamalek (Gezira Island)

Cairo Egypt
Excellent
51%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 481 reviews

Zamalek (Gezira Island)

This island is located in the Nile River between downtown Cairo and Giza, and is characterized by upscale hotels, restaurants and pleasant gardens.

Reviewed By 75014PARIS

One of the best area of Cairo for a short stay in the captital , great hotels , good restaurants , museum and Opera House are situated there as well as Cairo Tower !!!!

3. Nile River

Cairo 15662 Egypt
Excellent
71%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,992 reviews

Nile River

Stretching for 4,187 miles, the longest river in the world flows from its major source, Lake Victoria in east central Africa, through Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and northwards into Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea.

Reviewed By Necessiter

We were looked after from start to finish - excellent service. We travelled as 2 couples on the Blue Shadow II - we were on the second from top deck and the boat is fabulous - huge rooms, lovely top deck, excellent food in the spacious dining room (buffet-style). Staff are very friendly and attentive - nothing is too much bother. Also we paid tips up front so no issues with that. Our guide was excellent - gave us a full programme overview the night before, arranged all transport, stayed with us on every trip and very knowledgeable. The 4 of us had our guide and driver for every excursion to ourselves - the included ones and the extras. The included tours are comprehensive with a typical day being an early morning tour and back to the boat by noon for lunch, relaxing afternoon watching the Nile go by followed by evening meal. We did the Abu Simbel and balloon rides as extras plus the bird watching (excellent afternoon trip). Abu Simbel is worth the wake up call and 3 hr drive there and back - we left at 04:30, toured the site for 2hrs and back for lunch at 12:30 (our driver was swift!!). The balloon ride is very very gentle with awesome views. We added in an overnight stay in Cairo at the end to see the Pyramids and museum - brilliant experience and well worth the extra day. Orbital have been superb - cannot fault them at all.

4. Al-Azhar Park

Darassa Hill Al Darassa Hill, Cairo 11511 Egypt http://www.azharpark.com
Excellent
60%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 922 reviews

Al-Azhar Park

Reviewed By limegreenchalk - Macon, United States

If you've had enough of noise and are looking for a green space in which to relax, this park is a great option. There are several cafes in which you can get something to eat, as well.

5. Nilometer

Roda Island, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
47%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 97 reviews

Nilometer

Reviewed By Brun066 - Florence, Italy

Like almost all people of medium culture, even before any visit to Egypt I have heard about Nilometers. I also know the large Roman mosaic of Palestrina (Italy), depicting the Nile and where a beautiful well-shaped Nilometer is also clearly visible. Finally, on a previous trip, I visited the Nilometers in Elephantine and in Kom Ombo. This one in Rodah (according to the chronicles, built in 715 and rebuilt in 861 AD) is certainly the most beautiful and elaborate among the Nilometers I have seen, and is a "not to be missed", even with all the wonders that there are to see in Cairo and its surroundings . After the trip, however, I got the curiosity to understand if and how this medieval Nilometer had on-site ancestors in the Pharaonic era (which is often understood); and if there is evidence of this. So I came across the highly documented article by Étienne Drioton (former curator of the Egyptian section at the Louvre museum), "Les origines pharaoniques du Nilomètre de Rodah" (1952). From this writing it's clear that actually a Nilometer located in the nearby area should be the oldest in Egypt (it would even date back to the predynastic era, ie before 3100 BC). But it's important to know that it - according to the religious texts examined by Drioton - was not located here in Rodah (where after all the diggings carried out didn't reveal such ancient remains), but in Per-Hâpi; location to be identified with Helwan, 20 km further south. It's evocative to imagine the Pharaoh who, having heard from his officials of the arrival of the flood, lays his hands on the river intimating "get up, Nile", thus arousing amazement and reverence in his subjects. But this image is no less effective if the scene is believed to take place in Helwan instead of Rodah.

6. Chaar-Hachamaim Synagogue

Shar'a Adly opposite Kodak Passage, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
33%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
33%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 3 reviews

Chaar-Hachamaim Synagogue

7. Wadi Degla

Cairo Egypt http://www.wadidegla.com/
Excellent
34%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
23%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 44 reviews

Wadi Degla

Located only 15 minutes from the Cairo suburb of Maadi, this rugged valley contains a wide variety of animal life including deer, hares, red foxes, reptiles, Egyptian turtles, twelve species of resident and migrant birds and 64 kinds of plants.

Reviewed By TTOverseas - Cairo, Egypt

While this would not be on my tp ten list if visiting Cairo for the first (or second or maybe third) time, as a resident of Cairo having a protected wadi area so close is really appreciated. This was our go to place for an "adventure" when my kids were smaller (2-10 +/-) and now we go for mountain biking and picnics. The area gets busy with family and teens (looking for privacy...) on holidays or weekends, but is empty early Friday and on weekday afternoons. The BBQ areas can be dirty, but we bring our lunch and can stop anywhere- plenty of undisturbed, quiet areas left. This is probably the closest and easiest "desert" area to get to near Cairo.

8. Japanese Garden

Fayzi St Helwan, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
44%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
33%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 9 reviews

Japanese Garden

9. Mokkatom Mountain

Cairo Egypt
Excellent
33%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 15 reviews

Mokkatom Mountain

10. Gabalaya Park and Aquarium

Between Om Kalthoum Street and Hassan Sabri Street Zamalek, Cairo 11511 Egypt
Excellent
0%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
7%
Terrible
72%
Overall Ratings

1.5 based on 14 reviews

Gabalaya Park and Aquarium

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.